Image Forming System, Method of Controlling Image Forming System, and Storage Medium

The disclosure relates to an image forming system, a method of controlling the image forming system, and a storage medium.

In a printing apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, a function for confirming whether operation for forming the image on the sheet is normally performed (hereinafter, referred to as “test print function”) is generally used. The test print function is used to perform operation for printing an adjustment image on the sheet in a function of adjusting image formation on the sheet, and is also used to confirm operation of a finishing apparatus that performs finishing on a printed document. For case binding, in addition to the image forming operation, operation for wrapping a body with a cover and gluing a spine is performed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-117285 discusses a technique for facilitating case binding printing by storing binding print data including a cover and a body in a storage device of a printing machine in association with an identifier, and reading out the binding print data with the identifier.

However, to confirm the operation of the case binding by using the test print function, it is necessary to separately prepare body data because a certain number of sheets are necessary for gluing the spine of the body, which takes time and effort.

According to an aspect of the embodiments, an image forming system configured to perform case binding, in which a bundle of printed sheets as a body is bound by being wrapped with a cover, includes a first reception unit configured to receive a number of sheets on which a test print pattern image is to be printed, a second reception unit configured to receive a print instruction to print the test print pattern image, and a control unit configured to perform control to perform printing based on the print instruction, wherein, in a case where execution of predetermined postprocessing different from the case binding is set and the second reception unit receives the print instruction, the control unit performs control to print the pattern image on the number of sheets received by the first reception unit, and in a case where execution of the case binding is set and the second reception unit receives the print instruction, the control unit performs control to print the pattern image on a number of sheets greater by a predetermined number of sheets than the number of sheets received by the first reception unit.

Features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. The following description of embodiments is described by way of example.

An exemplary embodiment is described with reference to the drawings.

1 FIG. 101 102 103 101 102 101 104 104 Case binding is described. The case binding is binding in which a spine of a body is glued and the body is wrapped with a cover.is a diagram illustrating the case binding. A bodyis a body of the case binding and is a bundle of sheets on which images are printed. A coveris a cover of the case binding and is folded at a center of a long side. A spineof the bodyis glued and bound to a folded portion of the cover. The bodyis bound in such a manner that a productis obtained. The productis a final product of the case binding.

101 After the bodyis bound, a part of the sheets is cut in order to improve appearance in some cases.

2 FIG. 2 FIG. 100 215 100 100 100 100 100 215 illustrates appearance of an image forming system according to the exemplary embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment, the image forming system includes a multifunctional peripheral (MFP), and a case binding machinethat is a finishing apparatus for finishing sheets printed by the MFP. The MFPincludes a copy function and a print function. The MFPincludes a function of case binding processing. The MFPis an example of an image forming apparatus. As illustrated in, the MFPand the case binding machineare connected to each other.

100 215 215 250 215 250 251 The sheets printed by the MFPare conveyed to the case binding machine. The case binding machineperforms case binding operation on the conveyed sheets to create a product of the case binding. A discharge trayis a discharge tray to which a printed document not subjected to the case binding processing is discharged. A sheet that is conveyed to the case binding machinebut cannot be subjected to the case binding processing is also discharged to the discharge tray. A discharge trayis a discharge tray to which the product of the case binding is discharged.

3 FIG. 3 FIG. 100 215 100 110 130 100 200 211 212 213 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 214 illustrates a hardware configuration of the image forming system according to the exemplary embodiment. In the image forming system illustrated in, the MFPis connected to the case binding machine. The MFPis connected to a serverthrough a local area network (LAN). The MFPincludes a controller unit, an operation unit, a scanner, and a printer. The controller unitincludes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), an operation unit interface (I/F), a network I/F, a scanner I/F, a printer I/F, a facsimile (FAX) unit, and an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

210 These units are connected through a bus.

201 201 100 203 201 204 202 204 204 212 7 FIG. The CPUcontrols each of the units included in the image forming system. The CPUstarts up the MFPbased on a boot program stored in the ROM. When the CPUreads out various kinds of programs stored in the HDDand performs various kinds of processing by using the RAMas a work area, processing in a flowchart illustrated inis realized. The HDDstores various kinds of programs including various kinds of function applications for the copy function, the print function, the function of case binding processing, and the like. The HDDstores various kinds of image data such as image data read by the scanner.

205 211 211 201 211 211 100 205 205 The operation unit I/Fis connected to the operation unit, and inputs/outputs data to/from the operation unitunder the control of the CPU. The operation unitincludes an input device such as a touch panel and hardware keys, and a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a light-emitting diode (LED). The hardware keys include a start button for instructing scanning start of a set paper document, and the like. The operation unitreceives input operation from a user and a service engineer who is a provider of the MFP, outputs operation information to the operation unit I/F, and displays various kinds of user interface (UI) screens input from the operation unit I/F. In the exemplary embodiment, a UI screen displayed for operation in a service mode used by the service engineer is referred to as a service mode screen.

206 110 130 201 110 206 201 110 209 131 201 209 The network I/Fis an interface for establishing connection with external apparatuses including the serverthrough the LAN. The CPUperforms transmission/reception of data with the external apparatuses including the serverby using the network I/F. A part of the processing performed by the CPUmay be performed by the server. The FAX unitis an interface for establishing connection with an external FAX apparatus through a telephone line. The CPUperforms transmission/reception of FAX data with the external FAX apparatus by using the FAX unit.

207 212 212 207 212 212 204 207 The scanner I/Fis connected to the scanner. The scannerincludes an optical reading unit such as a charge coupled device (CCD), performs optical scanning on the paper document to read the paper document as electronic image data, and outputs the electronic image data to the scanner I/F. The scannercauses an automatic document feeder (ADF) to automatically feed a bundle of paper documents placed on a document tray to the optical reading unit one document by one document, and discharges the paper documents after reading. The image data read by the scanneris stored in the HDDthrough the scanner I/F.

208 213 213 208 213 215 201 208 213 201 212 207 208 213 201 213 215 215 The printer I/Fis connected to the printer. The printerforms an image on a recording medium such as a sheet by using image data input through the printer I/F. The printeris connected to the case binding machine. The CPUperforms, in response to a print execution start instruction, print processing by inputting image data to the printer I/Fand causing the printerto perform image forming operation. The CPUperforms, in response to a copy execution start instruction, copy processing by inputting image data that is obtained by reading a paper document by the scannerand output from the scanner I/F, to the printer I/Fand causing the printerto perform image forming operation. The CPUperforms, in response to a case binding processing execution instruction, case binding processing by conveying the sheets printed by the printerto the case binding machineand causing the case binding machineto perform case binding operation.

4 FIG. 201 204 100 400 401 402 403 404 405 illustrates a functional configuration example of the image forming system according to the exemplary embodiment. When the CPUexecutes various kinds of programs stored in the HDDand the like, the MFPfunctions as a display control unit, a function control unit, an error control unit, a communication control unit, a job control unit, and a history setting holding unit.

400 211 205 The display control unitcontrols display contents of a UI screen displayed on the operation unitbased on the operation information received through the operation unit I/F.

401 100 401 211 The function control unitperforms operation control of the various kinds of function applications. The function applications are software (programs) for operating the copy function, the print function, a finishing processing function including the case binding processing, a test print function, and the like. The plurality of function applications is provided for the respective functions. The finishing processing for finishing the sheets printed by the MFPincludes, in addition to the case binding processing, staple processing, punch processing, and saddle stitch binding processing. The function control unitswitches the display contents of the UI screen displayed on the operation unitbased on a switching instruction from each of the function applications.

402 213 212 215 The error control unitreceives a notification of an abnormal state occurring in the printer, the scanner, the case binding machine, and the like, and performs control to stop the entire system or to instruct degeneracy operation.

403 110 The communication control unitcontrols communication with the external apparatuses including the server.

404 212 213 207 208 The job control unitcontrols, in response to job execution instructions from the various kinds of function applications, the scannerand the printerthrough the scanner I/Fand the printer I/F, thereby performing scan processing, print processing, and case binding processing.

405 405 100 204 405 204 The history setting holding unitmanages operation history and various kinds of settings in the apparatus. The history setting holding unitstores settings of the MFP, settings of the various kinds of function applications necessary for execution of the job, and the like, in the HDDand the like. The history setting holding unitstores a user operation history, a job execution result, occurrence of an error, and the like in the HDDand the like.

5 5 FIGS.A andB 5 FIG.A 5 FIG.B 501 211 501 502 502 401 211 503 each illustrate a display example of the service mode screen. A menu screenin the service mode illustrated inis displayed on the operation unitin response to reception of an instruction for switching a mode to the service mode. On the menu screenin the service mode, a TEST_PRINT buttonfor starting up the test print function that is a function usable by the service engineer is displayed. When the TEST_PRINT buttonis pressed, the function control unitstarts up the test print function, and displays a test print setting screen on the operation unit. On a test print setting screenillustrated in, values currently set to respective setting items of the test print function are displayed so as to be changeable.

504 508 503 514 518 503 504 508 509 513 504 508 509 513 519 520 405 503 205 204 521 401 404 404 204 Item namestoin the test print setting screencorrespond to respective setting items of the test print function. As numerical value rangestoin the test print setting screen, ranges of values that can be input to setting items of the item namestoare displayed. As setting valuesto, values currently set to the respective setting items of the item namestoare displayed. When any of the setting valuestois pressed, a value set to the corresponding setting item is changeable to a value input by a numeric keypad. When an OK buttonis pressed, setting is fixed to the changed value. The history setting holding unitreceives the setting values set in the test print setting screenfrom the operation unit I/F, and stores the setting values as test print setting values in the HDD. When a start buttonis pressed, the function control unitissues a test print instruction to the job control unit. When receiving the test print instruction, the job control unitperforms printing based on the test print setting values stored in the HDD.

509 504 510 505 511 506 511 511 512 507 513 508 513 The setting valueof the item name(PG_TYPE) indicates a pattern number of a chart pattern used for the test print. The setting valueof the item name(PG_PICK) indicates a cassette number of a sheet feeding cassette for feeding a sheet used for the test print. The setting valueof the item name(PG_DUP) indicates whether duplex printing is performed in the test print. The setting valueof “0” indicates non-execution of the duplex printing, and the setting valueof “1” indicates execution of the duplex printing. The setting valueof the item name(PG_SHEETS) indicates the number of sheets to be printed in the test print. The setting valueof the item name(PG_FINISH) indicates presence/absence of finishing processing to be performed on the sheet on which the chart pattern is printed, and a type of the finishing processing. The setting valueof “5” indicates execution of the case binding processing.

6 FIG. 6 FIG. 6 FIG. 6 FIG. 601 604 204 509 504 601 604 601 604 601 602 603 604 illustrates examples of the chart pattern for the test print. Chart patternstoillustrated inare stored in the HDDand the like. Based on the pattern number set in the setting valueof the item name(PG_TYPE), any of the chart patternstoillustrated inis selected. The types of the chart pattern are not limited to the chart patternstoillustrated in. The chart patternis a white-paper pattern. The chart patternis a half-tone pattern and has a density between a darkest printable color and a brightest printable color. The chart patternis a pattern including four divided areas, and the divided areas have different densities. The chart patternis a lattice pattern.

7 FIG. 7 FIG. 521 503 201 204 202 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed in a case where the start buttonis pressed in the test print setting screenthat is displayed in the test print function called from the service mode. The flowchart illustrated inis realized when the CPUreads out the programs stored in the HDDto the RAMand executes the programs.

521 201 204 When the start buttonis pressed, the CPUreads out the test print setting values stored in the HDD.

701 201 513 508 In step S, the CPUacquires the setting value (setting value) of the setting item (item name) of the finishing processing.

702 201 701 702 704 702 703 In step S, the CPUdetermines whether the finishing processing is set to the case binding processing, based on the setting value acquired in step S. In a case where the finishing processing is set to the case binding processing (YES in step S), the processing proceeds to step S. In a case where the finishing processing is not set to the case binding processing (NO in step S), the processing proceeds to step S.

703 201 In step S, the CPUperforms print setting with the test print setting values.

704 201 510 505 In step S, the CPUacquires the setting value (setting value) of the setting item (item name) of the sheet feeding cassette.

705 201 703 705 706 705 In step S, the CPUdetermines whether sheets of a size on which the case binding can be performed have been loaded in the sheet feeding cassette of the set cassette number based on the setting value acquired in step S. In a case where the sheets of the size on which the case binding can be performed have been loaded (YES in step S), the processing proceeds to step S. In a case where the sheets of the size on which the case binding can be performed have not been loaded (NO in step S), the processing in the flowchart ends.

706 201 In step S, the CPUsearches for a sheet feeding cassette in which sheets having a size twice the size of the sheets loaded in the sheet feeding cassette of the set cassette number are loaded. The reason for using sheets having a size twice the size of the sheets loaded in the sheet feeding cassette of the set cassette number as a search criterion is that the sheets loaded in the sheet feeding cassette of the set cassette number are used as the body of the case binding. In a case where the case binding is performed, the cover may be required to have a size twice or more the sheet size for the body in order to wrap the sheets of the body with the cover. In the exemplary embodiment, the sheet feeding cassette in which the sheets of which a length of a short side is equal to a length of the sheets for the body in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction and a length of a long side is twice a length of the sheets for the body in the conveyance direction are loaded, is searched for as the sheet feeding cassette for feeding the sheet for the cover.

707 201 706 707 708 707 In step S, the CPUdetermines whether the appropriate sheet feeding cassette is present in the search in step S. In a case where the appropriate sheet feeding cassette is present (YES in step S), the appropriate sheet feeding cassette is determined to be the sheet feeding cassette for feeding the sheet for the cover, and the processing proceeds to step S. In a case where the appropriate sheet feeding cassette is absent (NO in step S), the processing in the flowchart ends.

708 201 201 512 507 201 512 512 512 201 512 201 In step S, the CPUsets the number of sheets to be printed in the test print. The CPUfirst acquires the setting value (setting value) of the setting item (item name) of the number of sheets to be printed. In the case where the case binding is performed, a sufficient number of sheets for the body is necessary for gluing, and therefore, adding processing of the number of sheets is performed. In this example, description is given while the minimum number (predetermined number) of sheets for the body that can be glued and bound by the case binding is 30. For example, the CPUsets a value obtained by adding a value of 29 to the setting value (setting value), as the number of sheets to be printed. In this case, the value of 29 is the number of sheets obtained by subtracting one from the minimum number of sheets that can be bound by the case binding, and is an example of a first predetermined number of sheets. In this way, even when the setting value (setting value) is “1” that is the minimum number of sheets settable as the number of sheets to be printed in the test print, it is possible to surely set the number of sheets to be printed greater than or equal to the minimum number of sheets (greater than or equal to predetermined number of sheets) on which the case binding can be performed. For example, in a case where the setting value (setting value) is less than “30” (less than predetermined number of sheets), the CPUmay change the number of sheets to be printed to 30, and in a case where the setting value (setting value) is greater than or equal to “30”, the CPUmay not change the number of sheets to be printed. In this case, the value of 30 is the minimum number of sheets on which the case binding can be performed, and is an example of a second predetermined number of sheets.

709 201 215 201 In step S, the CPUperforms a cut setting of the case binding processing. In the exemplary embodiment, since the setting is to confirm whether the case binding machineis normally operated, a predetermined setting, for example, a cut setting of 2.0 mm is applied. The CPUmay change the cut setting based on the size of the sheets for the body and the number of sheets to be printed, or may perform the cut setting with a preset value.

710 201 215 201 In step S, the CPUperforms a spine width setting of the case binding. As with the cut setting, since the setting is to confirm whether the case binding machineis normally operated, a predetermined setting, for example, a setting in which printing is not performed on a spine portion of the cover is applied. The CPUmay change the spine width setting based on the type of the chart pattern.

711 201 213 215 201 201 708 215 706 215 215 100 251 In step S, the CPUcontrols the printerand the case binding machineto perform the case binding processing. The CPUfeeds sheets from the sheet feeding cassette of the set cassette number, and prints a pattern image of the set chart pattern. The CPUperforms printing on the number of sheets to be printed set in step S. A bundle of printed sheets is conveyed as the body to the case binding machine. The sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette that is searched for and determined in step Sis conveyed as the cover to the case binding machine. The case binding machinewraps the body conveyed from the MFPwith the cover to create a product of the case binding, and discharges the product of the case binding to the discharge tray. Thereafter, the processing in the flowchart ends.

According to the exemplary embodiment described above, it is unnecessary to prepare body data and cover data when the test print of the case binding is performed. This makes it possible to improve convenience when the case binding operation is confirmed.

503 513 508 503 513 508 201 517 507 517 517 513 508 201 512 507 513 508 512 507 201 512 As a modification of the exemplary embodiment, the display contents of the test print setting screenmay be controlled based on the fact that the setting valueof the item name(PG_FINISH) in the test print setting screenis set to a value (in this example, “5”) indicating execution of the case binding processing. For example, based on the fact that the setting valueof the item name(PG_FINISH) is set to “5”, the CPUmay change display of the minimum value of the numerical value rangeof the item name(PG_SHEETS), to the minimum number of sheets on which the case binding can be performed. In a case where the minimum number of sheets on which the case binding can be performed is 30 and a range of [1-999] is displayed as the numerical value range, the display of the numerical value rangeis changed to a range of [30-999]. For example, based on the fact that the setting valueof the item nameis set to “5”, the CPUmay issue a notification prompting a user to input the number of sheets to be printed greater than or equal to the minimum number of sheets (greater than or equal to predetermined number of sheets) on which the case binding can be performed, to the setting valueof the item name. For example, in a case where the setting valueof the item nameis set to “5”, and the setting valueof the item nameis set to a value less than the minimum number of sheets (less than predetermined number of sheets) on which the case binding can be performed, the CPUmay automatically change the setting valueto the number of sheets to be printed greater than or equal to the minimum number of sheets on which the case binding can be performed.

100 The exemplary embodiment can be applied to saddle stitch binding. In the saddle stitch binding, printed sheets are piled up and half folded, and a folded part at a center of the sheets is stapled. In a case where the finishing processing is set to the saddle stitch binding processing, the MFPmay perform the processing while the minimum number of sheets to be printed is set to two.

The disclosure can be realized by supplying programs realizing one or more functions of the above-described exemplary embodiment to a system or an apparatus through a network or a storage medium, and causing one or more processors in a computer of the system or the apparatus to read out and execute the programs. The disclosure can be realized by a circuit (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) realizing one or more functions.

The above-described exemplary embodiment is merely a specific example for implementing the disclosure, and the technical scope of the disclosure is not limitedly interpreted by the exemplary embodiment. In other words, the disclosure can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or main features of the disclosure.

Embodiment(s) of the disclosure can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-139188, filed Aug. 20, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.